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(Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. E. LITTLE.

v BRIDLE BIT. No. 254,666. Patented Mar. 7,1882.

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(Model) Patented Mar. 7,1882.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ELLIS LITTLE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

BRlDLE-BIT.

SPECIIE"I(J.A'I|IION' forming part of Letters Patent No. 254,666, dated March 7, 1882.

Application filed January 9, 1882.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELLIs LITTLE, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Harness-Bits, of which the following is afull, clear, and exact description.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1, Sheet 1, is a side elevation of my improvement. vation of a part of the same. Fig. 3, Sheet 1, is a sectional plan view of a part of the same, taken through the line a: m, Fig. 1. Fig. 4, Sheet 2, is a rear perspective view of the improvement. Fig. 5, Sheet 2, is a front elevation of a part of the same, showing the side bar in position for inserting and removing the check-strap and the rein. The object of my invention is to facilitate the attachment of the cheek-strap, curb-strap, check-strap, and reins to bits and their detachment therefrom.

The invention consists in a harness-bit made with swinging rein-hooks and adapted to be closed by the swinging of the ends of the hooks under the ends of the mouth-piece, and to be opened for theremoval and insertion of the reinloops by swinging the ends of the hooks away from the said mouth-piece; also, in the side bars constructed at the upper extremities with split rings, and adapted to receive the loops of the headstall-straps; also, in the mouth-piece constructed with protuberances at its ends, and adapted to cover the ends of the swinging hooks; also, in the combination, with the mouth-piece having projections upon the rear side of its ends, of the side pieces having curved hooks surrounding the ends of the said mouth-piece, whereby the check-strap and the reins will be kept in place and can be readily attached and detached; also, in the side bars having journals made longer than the thickness of the mouthpiece, whereby the said mouth-piece can have an up-and-down movement to allow the strap to be readily placed upon and removed from the curved hooks;

also, in the mouth-piece made in two parts,

secured together by screws, whereby the said mouth-piece can be readily attached to and de- Fig. 2, Sheet 1; is a front ele (M0del.)

tached from the side bars; and also in the combination, with the lower ends of the side bars having journals, of across-bar having eyes and washers or nuts, where by the said bars are kept parallel, while being allowed to turn freely, as will be hereinafter fully described.

A represents the month-piece, and B theside bar, of the bit, which are connected together in the manner hereinafter described.

The mouth-piece A is made in two parts, fitted to each other and connected by screws 0.. In the adjacent sides of the ends of the parts of the mouth-piece A are formed half-round notches to receive and serve as bearings for the rounded parts or journalsb ofthe side bars, B. With this construction the month-piece A can be readily attached to and removed from the side bars, B. The rounded parts I) of the side bars, B, are made longer than the thickness of the ends of the mouth-piece A, so that the said mouth-piece can have a slight up-anddown movement upon the side bars to facilitate the insertion and removal of the check-straps and the reins, as will be hereinafter fully described.

Upon the upper end of the side bar, B, is formed an open ring, 0, the ends of which are overlapped, are beveled upon their adjacent sides, so that the beveled surfaces will be parallel with each other, as shown in Fig. 2, and are at such a distance apart that the cheek-strap D and the curb-strap E can be slipped edgewise between the said overlapped ends. The opening of the ring 0 is made upon the forward side of the said ring, so that the straps D E cannot come out when the bit is in use.

Upon the side bar, B, at the upper side of the end of the month-piece A, is formed the end of a curved or ring hook, F. The curved hook F'is bent into circular form, so as to bring the free end beneath the end of the mouth-piece A, and the said free end is bent upward, so as to be parallel with the side bar, B.

Upon the rear side of each end of the mouthpiece A is formed a projection, G, to cover the upwardly-projecting lower end of the curved hookF, so that the check-strap H and the rein I cannot come out when the bit is in use. With this construction, by turning the side bar, B, so as to bring the curved hook F into line with the mouth-piece A and slipping the mouth-piece A upward upon the rounded parts or journals 1) of the side bars, B, the end of the said hook will pass out from beneath the projection G of the said mouth-piece A, and the check-strap H and the rein I can be readily slipped over the end of the said hook F, and thus readily attached and detached. With this construction the straps can be attached to and detached from the side bar, B, without its being necessary to unloosen a buckle.

Upon the rear side of the downwardly projecting lower part of the sidebar, B, are formed loops J, to receive the reins I when a hardmouthed or vicious horse is to be driven. The lower ends of the side bars, B, are connected by a crossbar, K, which has eyes L upon its ends to receive journals M, formed upon the said lower ends of the side bars, B. The eyes L of the cross-bar K are kept in place upon the journals M of the side bars, B, by washers N, against the lower sides of which the ends of the journals M are headed down, or by nuts screwed upon the lower ends of the said journals M. By this construction the side bars, B, are kept parallel with each other while being allowed to turn freely.

Having thus described myinvention, I claim as new anddesire to secure by Letters Patent 1. In a bridle-bit, the combination, with the mouth-piece A, of the side bars, B, provided with curved hooks F, adapted to be swung under the ends of the mouth-piece, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. An improved bridle-bit having its side bars provided with split rings at their upper ends, and with curved hooks adapted to swing under the ends of the mouth-piece, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. Ina harness-bit, the combination, with the mouth-piece A, of the side bars, B, provided with the curved hooks F, having their free ends bent up under the ends of the mouthpiece and parallel with the said side bars, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In a harness-bit, the combination, with the mouth-piece A, having projections Gr upon the rear side of its ends, of the side pieces, B,

having curved hooks F, substantially as herein.

shown and described, whereby the check-strap and the reins will he kept in place and can be readily attached and detached, as set forth.

5. In a harness-bit, the combination, with the mouthpiece A, provided with the projections G, of the side bars, B, provided with the curved hooks F, and thejournals b, longer than the thickness of the said mouth-piece, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

6. In a harness-bit, thecombination of the side bars, B, provided with the mouth-piece A; made of two parts secured together by screws, one of the said parts being provided with the projections G on its ends, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

7. In a harness-bit, the combination, with the lower ends of the side bars, B, having journals M, of the cross-bar K, having eyes L, and the washers or nuts N, substantially as herein shown and described, whereby the side bars are kept parallel while being allowed to turn freely, as set forth.

ELLIS LITTLE.

Witnesses JAMES 'l. GRAHAM, C. SEDGWIOK. 

